Major traffic disruption in Dublin during EU meetings

Dublin will experience significant disruption for four days next week as the largest policing operation in the history of the State takes place as part of Ireland's EU Presidency.

European leaders are meeting in the capital next Thursday and Friday but the security operation around these events, which has been described as "unprecedented" will get under way two days before, on Tuesday 10 November.

Every bus route in the city is expected to be affected by knock-on traffic disruption associated with road closures and diversions due to the event, and people are being asked to consider if their plans in Dublin next Thursday and Friday are necessary.

Real-time information on arriving buses will not be available on display boards at stops but will still be accessible through apps, the National Transport Authority said, and it advised people to check its website for all information on route changes.

Anyone travelling to or around the capital, between Tuesday and Friday next week, is being warned to plan their journeys and expect major and prolonged traffic disruption.

Strike action is also planned by public sector workers next Thursday for 24 hours as part of an ongoing dispute over a public sector pay deal.

Around 50 European leaders are due to attend meetings of the European political community in the Convention Centre on Dublin's North Wall Quay next Thursday and Friday.

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin will also host a dinner for visiting leaders in the National Gallery of Ireland on Thursday evening after the EPC summit.

These summits are the largest ever meetings of heads of state or government in Ireland and gardaí say their scale and complexity are a significant logistical undertaking with unprecedented security considerations.

The policing operation will begin incrementally next Tuesday and will impact public transport users along with those who live, work and study in the areas around the Convention Centre, the National Gallery, several city hotels and routes between Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnell.

Certain roads will be closed, public transport will be diverted and traffic delays are expected.

Anyone travelling to Dublin city, Dublin Airport or Dublin Port next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday is being warned by Dublin City Council of "major and prolonged traffic disruption".

Gardaí are advising people to leave plenty of time for travel, to check public transport information and to monitor social media for updates.

'Bigger than a US presidential visit'

Superintendent Liam Geraghty said there has been "intense and extensive planning" between An Garda Síochána and local authorities, transport companies as well as businesses and residents in key locations.

"We have not seen a policing and security operation of this scale ever before in Ireland, this is bigger than a US presidential visit," he said.

"There will be around 50 heads of state and government in Dublin on Thursday the 12th, with the vast majority of them staying overnight for Friday the 13th.

"Our appeal is to advise the public of the significant traffic disruptions that will take place in order to put that policing and security operation in place."

Asked if employers should allow staff to work from home from next Tuesday to Friday he said gardaí were not in a position to give that advice, but that businesses should be aware of the level of impact on the city

"There will be very significant traffic disruption in Dublin city centre and in the wider city because of security and motorcycle escorts.

"We are not in a position to advise anyone to do any particular course of action. It is for people now to look at what is happening, for businesses to look at what is happening, for offices to look at what is happening and to make the best call for their particular circumstances."

The operation will involve a wide range of Garda units including frontline policing, public order, special detective unit, emergency response unit, air support and the national drone unit.

Gardaí said access to residences and businesses in the vicinity of the meetings will remain open with security checks.

Mr Geraghty asked the public to heed advice from gardaí, particularly in relation to a large amount of security motorcades through the city.

Asked if An Garda Síochána had secured additional transport for rank-and-file gardaí directed not to use their personal vehicles during the work-to-rule, Mr Geraghty said the dispute is still under discussion.

"The Garda commissioner has met with the Garda Representative Association earlier this week - those talks are ongoing," he said.

No pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicular access to security zones

The National Transport Authority's head of communications said there would be "significant disruptions" across the city, but public transport will be operational.

Jennifer Gilna said: "We would ask everyone to look at what they are doing, and do they have to be here?

"If you’re doing something and you don’t have to be here on that particular day, you know, to look at that.

"But obviously, if you’re coming to work and you’re coming to something else that’s very different - the services will be operational."

Reflecting on the comparatively lower level of disruption associated with other EU presidency events, she added: "I’m afraid that people will think 'this is another EU presidency event, it doesn’t impact me’.

"It is really important to be able to say to everybody, I need you to look at it now, today, tomorrow, not next week."

Ms Gilna also said there will be no pedestrian, bicycle, or vehicular access to security zones which will be "completely sealed".

Additional reporting PA